The impact of abuse on men and women with severe learning disabilities and their families1

Summary So far, little systematic attention has been paid to the impact of abuse on men and women with severe learning disabilities. Using the criteria for post‐traumatic stress disorder ( American Psychiatric Association 1994 ) and questions about changes in skills and ‘challenging behaviours’, we interviewed parents to collect information about the effects of the abuse experienced by 18 people with severe learning disabilities. The...